On violent TV programs

This is in response to the article Violence on TPI (The Jakarta Post, May, 11, 2002).

I find it a bit rich that the reader concerned complained about fighting programs unsuitable for his children, who are of primary school age, being screened at 10 p.m. What may I ask are his young children doing still awake at 10 p.m?! I find this the case with most of my Indonesian friends and acquaintances. Their children stay up until 11 p.m., only for the parents to complain about how difficult it is to wake them up for school and that they are sleepy during school time.

First things first. Children are meant to be asleep by 9 p.m. at the latest (except very young babies, who are not yet able to regulate their sleeping patterns; but it is best to train them early!). They need at least eight hours sleep so that they may grow properly, get adequate rest for their mind and body (and so will the parents), and remain alert at the right times of the day (like at school, instead of at home at 10 p.m.). Only on very rare occasions should they be allowed to stay up later, as this can cause problems with their sleeping pattern.

Secondly, violent TV programs are screened mostly after 9 p.m. In the United Kingdom, this is called the watershed time, when children are not expected to be awake. Anyone allowing their children to watch TV beyond this time (and more so if unsupervised) are doing so at their own risk.

I agree that TPI (or any other television station) should regulate what they broadcast, giving adequate warning if programs screened before 9 p.m. are unsuitable for young children. But for the reader concerned to blame any TV station for unsuitable programs for his children, though they are screened at such a late hour, is just ridiculous. At the end of the day, the responsibility of looking after our children lies with ourselves. Just switch the TV off so they can go to bed when they should.

R. WAN ALI

Jakarta